Differential fitting



Dec. 13, 1949 o MULLER 2,491,328

DIFFERENTIAL FITTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1945 INVENTOR.

Dec. 13, 1949 MULLER 2,491,328

DIFFERENTIAL FITTING Filed Sept. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Gaga-Mail??? Steam or the like entering at nipple M for the first time, passes through the housing ID to the apparatus connected to nipple Hi. When the steam in the housing H1 or the apparatus con nected thereto condenses, the condensate flows back to the source of steam. In doing so, the condensate fills lower trap chamber 23 to the level indicated by the numeral 34. This con densate enters opening 28 in wall 26. At the same time, condensate flows through passages 39 whose lower levels are on the same plane and on opposite sides of the opening 28 through the horizontal wall 26, filling trap chambers 32, 33 and 38 to level indicated by the numeral 36, and all further condensate will overflow through the opening 28, chamber 23, and inlet I5.

The level of the liquid 36 is coplanar with the upper surface of the horizontal wall 26 and this level is above the bottom edge 2| of the bafiie l8. As will be noted from Figure 1, th upper end 31 of the wall 29 is above the upper end of the arcuate wall 22 within the outlet chamber 28. Additional condensation entering the opening 28 causes the condensation to rise above level 34 and to flow back through nipple l4 and the pipe connected thereto.

By disposing the axial center of the outlet above the inlet l5, a constant return flow of condensate is directed to be discharged into the inlet line, and by creating a level travel in the condensate return trap chamber 23 greater than the differenc of the water seal travel in chambers 38, 32, and 33, the discharge of water from the water seal chambers will be returned or discharged together with all the excess condensate in the fitting l0,

During periods when no steam is flowing through the fitting, the fitting is always filled with condensate to levels 34 and 36. Level 36 is above the lower end 2| of the baffle l8, therefore there is no unobstructed passage from nipple M to nipple It as long as the condensate in trap chambers 32, 33 and 38 is filled to level 36. No steam can pass through the fitting until the obstruction of the condensate in trap chamber 38 is overcome by steam pressure sufficient to do so.

When steam, which is delivered through the pipe connected to nipple l4, builds up pressure in the inlet chamber |9, it develops a difierential in pressure ahead of and behind the bafiie I8. When the steam pressure exceeds the atmospheric pressure in chamber l9 and the apparatus connected thereto it causes the condensation in the trap chamber 38 between the lower part 2| of partition l8 and the inlet end 24 of arcuate wall 22, to be depressed. This action in turn causes the condensation in trap chambers 32 and 33 to rise and overflow through passages 39 on the sides of the opening 28 into the lower trap chamber 23. When the difierential in pressure ahead of and behind baffle l8 becomes suflicient to depress the condensate to a point below the lower end 2! of bafiie l8, then the steam will pass around the lower end 2| of the bafile l8 into the chamber 20 and the apparatus connected thereto.

Thus steam will not pass through the fitting until the source of supply has built up a pressure sufiicient to overcome the difference in head between the level 36 and the lower end 2| of baflie I8.

The amount of differential between the lower P end 2| of bafiie 8 and the level 36, which is established by the height of the top of wall 26, governs the amount of steam pressure required before steam can flow through the fitting. This differential can be varied to suit conditions.

The variation in differential can be obtained by making fittings that vary in the amount that the lower end 2| of bafiie It extends below the level 36, or by constructing the fitting with an adjustable bafiie, an example of which is shown in Figures 4 and 5, which will enable the lower end 2| of the bafile l8 to be adjusted in height to suit conditions. In the latter case, the baffle I8 can be raised so that the lower end 2| will be above the level 36 and thereby creating no obstruction or resistance to flow through the fitting, if this should be desirable.

This fitting can be made as a cast unit with the bafiie and inner walls cast integral so that there will be no moving parts as shown in the drawings. The bafile and walls can be varied to bring about desirable results. The amount of offset or the difference in center lines of the inlet nipple and the outlet nipple can also be varied to suit conditions and the results desired. The inlet and outlet of the fitting may be made with screwed connection or they may be made with flanges or any other suitable means of fastening pipes or other apparatus or accessories thereto.

This fitting may be made to accommodate any size pipe or apparatus or accessories to be fastened thereto. Its general shape may be varied to suit its application and the material of which it is constructed may be varied to suit conditions. It may be constructed of sheet metal or steel or any other material and may be made of several separate pieces properly welded, brazed, soldered 0r fastened together in any suitable manner.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, this fitting may be made with an adjustable baii'le so that its effectiveness may be varied to meet variable requirements. The inlet and outlet may be made straight in line as shown in the drawings or they may be at right angle to each other, or at any angle to each other so that the fitting may be used as a straight running fitting or as an elbow or bend.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is disclosed a modified form of fitting which embodies a housing Ill similar to the housing I8 having parallel side walls ll and Il an arcuate lower Wall l2 and a top wall [3 A nipple HI extends from the one end of the housing being the intake nipple and is formed with internal threads l5 for receiving a pipe. The opposite or outlet end of the housing ID is formed with a nipple l6? having the internal threads Il for receiving a pipe. The housing ||l has disposed therein a vertically disposed baffle l8 which divides the housing into an intake chamber lS and an outlet chamber 28*. The housing [0 has positioned therein an arcuate wall 22 which is spaced inwardly from the outer wall I2 and is connected at the opposite edges thereof to the side walls I I and l The intake chamber end of the wall 22 is disposed above the bottom of the nipple W, as indicated at 24 and the lower or convex side of the wall 22 forms a lower trap or chamber 23 The outlet chamber end of the wall 22 is disposed in a plane above the top of the intake chamber end of this wall, as indicated by the numeral 25, and is positioned above the lower plane of the inner surface of the nipple I5 A transversely disposed horizontal wall 2E extends across the outlet chamber end of the trap or chamber 23 and is formed with an opening 28 by means of which the fluid may pass from the outlet chamber 2|] into the trap 23 A second arcuate inner wall 29 is disposed sub stantially concentric to the arcuate wall 2.". but

terminates at, the lower end slightly toneside of the, ballle P8. The wall 29 is formed at its upper end; with astraight portion 38 which rises above he. en f e M11 2; a i t d by the. numeral 31 The small wall 2-9 forms the t ap ch mber 33* betwe e a h. a th concav side of the all; 2 9-,

In order to, prov d a me s w r a justable baflle may, be, provided; so that free com-- mun 'eat ionmay be had be w e ta e c mber. .9. andtheo tle cham er 2. above h level indicat d y t e numeral theme p v d a il stable battle 411., The baffle 413' is carried by a shalt. 4.1 which is rotata ly c r e by a gla d 42 threaded into a bushing 43. The, bushing 43- is threaded.- into the side wall I I. The shaft 4+ at its inner end is formed with a conical bearing member 44 engaging ina conical bearing seat 45 which is formed in a. boss or enlargement 46 formed in the inner side of the side wall He. The opposite or outer end of the shatt M: is formed with a polygonal head 41 for receiving a wheel or handle in order to provide for adjustment of the baflie 40-.

The condensate fills the trap chamber 23 to the level 3,41% and it fills the trap chambers 32, 33 and 38 to the level 36 similarly to the manner in which the non-adjustable fitting functions which was previously described. However, the head to be overcome by the steam is the difference in height between the bottom of the adjustable baflie 40 and the level 36 This height can be varied by revolving the adjustable baffle 40 about the axis of its shaft 4|, which action decreases the head as the adjustable baffle is turned upward. This action may be continued until the bafile completely clears the level 36 and creates a free and unobstructed passage from the inlet chamber Hi to the outlet chamber 20 The lower end of the baffle l8 is machined on a concave curvature, as indicated by the numeral 50, so that the shaft 4| will snugly fit therein in order to prevent the passage of any fluid between the shaft 4| and the baflle W.

This fitting may be used in many ways, some of which are as follows:

1. To retard the flow of steam to radiators or other accessories which may be close to the boiler or pressure source by installing a fitting in the line to those radiators or other accessories. In this manner, the other pipes and radiators or other accessories, which are remote from the boiler or pressure source will receive the steam or fluid pressure at about the same time or before the radiators or accessories connected with one of these fittings in its supply line.

2. Non-adjustable fittings may be installed in every branch or supply line thereby filling the entire supply line system with steam or other fluid pressure at a pressure governed by the fittings, before steam enters any branch or radiator or other accessories attached thereto. In this manner, all the radiators or other accessories will receive steam by fluid pressure at the same time and at the same pressure.

3. Adjustable fittings with a variable differential may be installed in branches to radiators or other accessories which may require steam or other fluid pressure at varied times or pressures. In this manner, adjustments can be made to suit the requirements.

4. Adjustable fittings may be installed in all the branches supplying steam or other fluid pressure to radiators or other accessories. In this manner, the steam or other fluid pressure can be controlled ta enter: all. the radiators. or other ace cessories at the. same. time under the same pres: sure, or itcan be. var-led by adjusting any or all of the fittings so thatsteam or other fluid pres.-. sure will enter any or all the. radiators. at any timeorany pressure.

Theseandmany other applications. can be ob: tained by: varying the number and type of fittings installed.

Theexact configuration illustrated is regarded as the optimum, but some. of the desirable results inherent in this disclosure may be obtained by various. slight modifications including some departurefrom the exact configuration shown, and it is therefore requested that the scope of the invention, should b regarded as limited only bythe; terms of the claims,

Wha eelaim is:

1... a a as: or s eam or ther u e r pi es a. hou ing a n p s ly sposed thread d inlet and outlet nipples, said ousing n l me eeeesit d Walls, the xi center or said, outlet nipple. being disposed in a orizon al: plane. abo e the xi r ef said inlet nipple, a top wall, and an arcuate bottom vertical, baffle fixed between said side s and. dependin fro id op Wa t i bafile terminating above said bottom wall and dividing said housing into inlet and outlet chambers, a substantially semi-circular wall fixed between said side walls inwardly of said bottom wall and spaced from the lower end of said bafile, said. semi-circular wall extending partly into each of said chambers and terminating above the horizontal plane of the lower end of said baffle, a horizontal inner wall disposed above the horizontal plane of the lower end of said baffle and connecting the portions of said bottom and semi-circular walls disposed adjacent said outlet nipple, said portion of said semi-circular wall being formed with upwardly opening cutouts terminating at the horizontal p e of said horizontal inner wall, said horizontal inner wall having an opening therethrough, and a second inner wall disposed in said outlet chamber between said baffle and said semi-circular wall and terminating at its lower end below the horizontal plane of the lower end of said baffle, said latter wall also terminating at its upper end above the horizontal plane of the adjacent end of said semi-circular wall.

2. A fitting as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second inner wall is formed with a vertical upper part and a lower part curved towards said inlet nipple.

3. A fitting as set forth in claim 2 wherein said vertical baffle includes an upper baffle member fixed relative to the housing, a lower bafile member, and means for adjusting said lower baffle member whereby to vary the effective length of said vertical baffle.

4. A water seal steam fitting comprising a housing, an inlet nipple and an upwardly ofiset outlet nipple on said housing, a downwardly 01T- set bottom wall on said housing, a vertical baffle depending from the top wall of said housing, the

lower edge of said baflle spaced upwardly from said bottom wall and terminating vertically between the vertically offset lower edges of the inlet and outlet nipples, a U-shaped wall between said bottom wall and about the lower edge of said baffle forming a water seal on opposite sides thereof, an apertured horizontal connecting wall positioned above said lower edge of said baflle and between said U-shaped wall and said bottom Wall adjacent said outlet nipple adapted to direct a portion of the return flow of condensate into the center of said U-shaped wall and the remainder of the condensate into th space between said U-shaped wall and said bottom wall to provide a water seal therebetween.

5. A water seal steam fitting comprising a body, an inlet nipple and an upwardly offset outlet nipple on said body, said inlet nipple being spaced upwardly from the bottom of said body, a depending transverse bafile across said body terminating below the lower edge of said outlet nipple, an intermediate U-shaped double seal forming transverse wall across said body fixed in vertically spaced relation to said bottom and terminating on the opposite sides of said baflie above the lower edge thereof, and an apertured horizontal wall between the outlet ends of said U-shaped wall and the bottom wall of said body, cutouts formed in the outlet end of said U-shaped wall terminating in th horizontal plane of said horizontal wall whereby the return flow of condensate will be directed into the center of said U- shaped wall and into the space between said U- shaped wall and the bottom of the body to provide a double seal.

6. A water seal steam fitting comprising a body, an inlet nipple and an upwardly offset outlet nip- '8 ple on said body, said inlet nipple being spaced upwardly from the bottom of said body, a depending transverse baflie across said body terminatin below the lower edge of the upper nipple, an intermediate double seal forming transverse wall across said body fixed in vertically spaced relation to said bottom and terminating on the opposite sides of said baiile above the lower edge thereof, and an apertured horizontal Wall disposed above the horizontal plane of the lower end of said nipple and extending between said upwardly ofiset nipple and the adjacent transverse edge of said intermediate wall, said edge of said intermediate wall being formed with cutouts terminating at the horizontal plane of said horizontal wall.

OTTO MULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 950,787 Wheeler Mar. 1, 1910 1,682,550 Browne Aug. 28, 1928 1,950,227 Chevalier Mar. 6, 1934 

